Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Candy

[ButterSticks]

1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
1/4 c. butter or margarine, softened
1/4 c. chopped peanuts
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. powdered sugar
1 pkg. (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Tbs. PLUS 1 tsp. shortening
peanut butter icing (recipe follows)

Line an 8x8" or 9x9" pan with aluminum foil, leaving 1" of foil overhanging at 2 opposite sides of the pan. Grease the foil with butter. Mix peanut butter, butter, peanuts and vanilla in a medium bowl. Stir in the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until stiff dough forms (use your hands if necessary). If the dough is crumbly, add an additional tablespoon of peanut butter. Pat the mixture into the prepared foil-lined pan. Cover & refrigerate about 1 hour, or until firm. remove from pan using the over-hanging foil edges to lift candy. Cut into 64 pieces (8 rows by 8 rows). Cover a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Melt chocolate chips and shortening in a 1 qt. saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Dip each peanut butter square (one at a time) into the melted chocolate. Place on the cookie sheet and refrigerate uncovered for 30 minutes or until firm. Drizzle the peanut butter icing over the tops of the candies. Again refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm. Store loosely covered in the refrigerator.

PEANUT BUTTER ICING

1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 Tbs. creamy peanut butter
about 1 Tbs. milk

Mix powdered sugar and peanut butter. Beat the milk in with a whisk until smooth. Stir in additional milk if necessary, 1 tsp. at a time, until thin enough to drizzle.

[honeypsweet]

Buttersticks, thanks for posting all these great recipes today!